Rugby
Rugby is the core boys sport of the Michaelmas term, with 13 teams (ranging from the U14Cs to the 1st XV) playing a very strong rugby fixture card throughout the South East. All boys are given the chance to represent the College. There is an open choice for rugby in the sixth form, and, typically 80 or more boys opt for rugby.
From Year 11 and beyond for those who wish to make rugby their sport of choice, provision is extended into the Lent term where we play fifteen, ten and seven a side versions of the game. We also support those who wish to play rugby at the highest level through a year round performance programme that supports aspirational rugby players on their journey. Players who aspire to reach the very top of their potential have gone on to represent sides at full international, premiership, championship, schoolboy international, schoolboy premiership, schoolboy divisional and county level.
We support the whole range of the ability spectrum.
Coaching
We are fortunate to have a team of highly skilled and experienced rugby coaches at the College, all of whom have RFU coaching qualifications ranging from levels 1 to 4.
Olly Torri – Director of rugby. Level four has worked across Harlequins DPP/PDG and RFU performance pathway at county and divisional level.
Jack Roberts – Performance Rugby Coach. Level three works within the Harlequins DPP programme. Coaches across all age ranges and offers 1-1 coaching with aspirational performers.
Richard Siggs – 1st XV Rugby Coach. Level three former manager of the Harlequins Sussex DPP programme and RFU performance pathway chairman of selectors and coach at county and divisional level
Will Longden – Schoolmaster and Rugby Coach. Level two and works within the Harlequins DPP programme.
Tim Holgate – Housemaster and former RFU Development coach. Level two and ex-professional player with London Irish
Alongside coaching, our player welfare programme is of the highest priority. We have physio provision twice a week during the season (and weekly in Lent and summer terms) and at home grounds every Saturday. We also have two paramedics, a rapid-response vehicle and staff who help deliver support to all our pitches. We also connect the physio to our Medical Centre and our Head of Athletic Development, in our state of the art gym, for any rehabilitation required from injury as well as delivering necessary athletic programmes for specific rugby development. We have a Mind Gym run by our Performance Coach available with external sports psychology support.
Recent Successes
1st XV reach the final of the Nat West Bowl at the Stone X Stadium (2022)
1st VII reach semi-final groups in Rosslyn Park 7s (2017), quarter-finals (2016, 2019, 2022)
Wilf Batham – Read (Harlequins U18)
Oliver Wigman (Canada U18)
Jack Greig (Harlequins U17)
ALUMNI
Theo Bevaqua (Pennell 2020) Cardiff Blues, Wales U20
Will Green (Gonville 1992) England, Wasps, Leinster
Seb Nagle-Taylor (Gonville 2012) England 7s, Saracens, Gloucester, Jersey Reds
Piers O’Conor (Gonville 2014) England, Bristol, Wasps, Ealing Trailfinders, Ireland U19
Hugo Southwell (Wargrave 1998) Scotland, Wasps
Maurice Trapp (Gonville 1967) former New Zealand RFU President 2017 – 2019
